Fireflies don’t really turn on lights when they light up. Instead, they release an enzyme called luciferase and ATP, and these, when exposed to air, create a chemical reaction when it is combined with oxygen to create that glow.

So the next time a kid comes up to you and says that the firefly’s producing light, your answer should be, "No, honey. That’s simply a chemical reaction produced when luciferase combines with oxygen!"

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